The Computational Universe

There is no doubt in my mind that computers will eventually pass the Turing test in all fields. However, I believe that computers will never be able to “think” and thus, I tend to agree with John Searle that computers “merely manipulate symbols whereas a brain attaches meaning to them.” Just because a computer is able to exactly imitate the exact processes and produce the exact results that humans produce in a certain situation does not mean that the computer understands what it is doing. It is simply following complex code. Sure, some day in the future, we will have a program that encompasses all aspects of the human mind and install that program into a computer, which will then act human like. But, I’m pretty sure it won’t know what it’s doing because it has no consciousness. Once again, it is just following a set of complex codes and manipulating symbols, which, I think, is the main argument against the possibility that computers will ever possess consciousness. Granted, we don’t know what consciousness is, but a computer is not aware of what it is doing. I feel like my argument is very cyclical, unfulfilling, and feeling-oriented; perhaps, it is because I believe that humans are special as Brooks would say. Nevertheless, I still believe that computers will always be computers and nothing more.

If one looks at human behavior, one will notice that we are pretty arbitrary in similar, if not identical situations. Now, I question whether or not a computer will have the ability to be arbitrary. Suppose one day that Bob walks into a room covered with red wallpaper and suddenly feels angry; the next day, Bob (his current mood prior to walking into the room is the same as it was during the first day) walks into the same room with red wallpaper and suddenly feels even angrier. Would a computer have this notion of arbitrariness? I tend to think that it would not as it would feel the same level of “angry” after both visits into the room.

My conclusion about AI is: computers someday will have the ability to accurately imitate humans in almost every situation, which will be freaky. There is still a long way to go since humans still do not understand many aspects of themselves that are being imitated.

I admire Tim Berners-Lee for his intelligence and his innovation.  I especially admire him for not assuming any royalties for his work.  The World Wide Web was his invaluable contribution to society and certainly has made him one of the most influential figures in modern times.  When creating the web, Tim Berners-Lee held the view that information that could be accessed would be used in unique and creative ways by different persons.  The web simply makes being creative more convenient and accessible.  To sum it up, Tim Berners-Lee innovated to bring about more innovations.
One of the biggest influences that have risen from the makings of the Internet and the web is email.  At first, it was limited to a special group of people, but now has become so ubiquitous that it is assumed that everyone in a developed area has an email address.  This email phenomenon has become so popular that many telecommunications company, in light of lost revenues from fewer telephone calls, have become involved in the booming Internet industry.  After all, there are about 4 billion people in this world who still do not have access to the internet.  Although email has made communication cheaper and more efficient, its commercialization has also caused us to endure harms such as spam and computer viruses.
Much like how the email has made the home telephone less frequently used, I see the expanding functions of the web and internet to cause what were once integral parts of our lives to become more obsolete, such as the library (ebooks) and the radio (streamed radio).

When doing a somewhat complex algebra problem, we follow a set of guidelines. For example, we scan the equation left to right, check what computational signs (+, -, *, /) are used and check if there are any parentheses; then, we proceed by doing the computations in the parentheses first, then the multiplication/division computations, and finally the addition/subtraction computations. The way humans do computation is exactly how Turing had his machine function: a set of rules must be carried out in a mechanical manner.

A Turing machine reads a tape of information via a “head” and adheres to a list of very simple instructions (variations of seven types of instructions: Print 1, Print 0, Go left, Go right, Go to step x, Go to step Y, Stop). One of the more interesting concepts of a Turing machine is that of the Universal Turing Machine. Basically, a UTM is able to produce the same output as another Turing Machine (let’s call it TM “A”) given the same input. This does not mean that the UTM and TM “A” are identical as the process undertaken by TM “A” may be more efficient (take fewer steps). To make this idea more accessible, think of a Turing Machine as a computer program and a Universal Turing Machine as the computer itself.

The Turing machine serves as an example of the limitations of mechanical computations. Despite the simplicity of the Turing-Post programs, predicting the outcome of a T-P program, such as whether it goes on for eternity, goes in a loop, or eventually stops in a particular state, using a computational procedure is extremely difficult, if not impossible to do (halting problem). The idea illustrated by this phenomenon is similar to the idea presented in Langton’s ant, the Game of Life, and the snowflake phenomena: “simple laws can generate extremely complex behavior,” and unpredictable outcomes (Stewart 104).

I am impressed with the Scribblers functions, but don’t enjoy working with it because working with it is like working with a rebellious child who simultaneously obeys orders while disobeying them.  Sure, the Scribbler moves forward for a few inches as I command it to do so, but then it does so following a curved path as opposed to a straight path.  So it needs some spanking and calibrating, but it still does not move in a straight path.  But what can I do?  Perhaps the problem is due to its hardware configuration, which suggests it was not “genetically gifted.”  Maybe one wheel is a little bigger than the other.  But, I highly doubt that since the wheels were made by other robots that are accurate and precise. 

Speaking of robots that are accurate and precise, how about them surgical robots?  Those expensive robots have only recently been approved, but certainly have a future.  Although the surgical robots now require human control, I imagine I would feel unsafe being operated by a robot that may suffer a technical malfunction (cease to obey its human operator) and suddenly decide to cut me up.  I don’t think the same feeling of trust can exist between two humans and a human and a robot, and thus would prefer to be operated by a human even if the probability for error is higher.  But, there are tradeoffs as surgical robots operate with smaller incision openings.  Once these robots are more commonplace, I think I would not feel as uneasy about them as I feel now.

So, here’s a little about Steven Chen.  I come from Orange County in sunny southern California, and try to go home during every break to enjoy the beautiful weather down there (I have not watched the show, but know that it is not an accurate representation of that area).  But this doesn’t mean I dislike the weather here.  In fact, I actually prefer cool and somewhat overcast days and certainly do enjoy snow days as they don’t exist back home. 

I am currently a sophomore majoring in economics and pursuing certificates in finance and/or musical performance.  If I’m not studying or pretending to study, I’m probably playing the violin as I have been playing that thing for 14 years.  In addition to the time required for orchestra and quintet rehearsals, I try to spend about 2-3 hours a day for practice [go to the puo concert on april 28/29 ].  If I’m not pretending to study or “practicing” I’m probably catching up on sports as I am a die-hard LA Kings fan.  How many Asians do you know who like hockey?

I’m taking this class because it’ll give me some insight of how technology, more specifically, how computers have changed the world and will continue to change the world.  Not only will the computer advances make life more enjoyable, but it will also bring about more areas for business development.   Learning about this technology will certainly be beneficial to me if I do end up doing business in a technological field.  Ok, I’m done.

 EDIT: I use a boring Dell Latitude D600.  Game over.

 EDIT2 (2/14/06 at 2:14 AM) of my EDIT: (2/14/06 at 2:10 AM)